LIBYA: Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and the Italian Prime Minister Salvio Berlusconi sign accord worth billions

Record ID: 701001

  • Title: LIBYA: Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and the Italian Prime Minister Salvio Berlusconi sign accord worth billions
  • Date: 31st August 2008
  • Summary: (W4) BENGHAZI, LIBYA (AUGUST 30, 2008) (REUTERS) LIBYAN LEADER MUAMMAR GADDAFI AND ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER SILVIO BERLUSCONI STANDING (WITH GADDAFI RAISING FIST) AUDIENCE GADDAFI AND BERLUSCONI SIGNING CLOSE BERLUSCONI SIGNING CLOSE GADDAFI SIGNING PHOTOGRAPHERS TAKING PICTURES OF SIGNING (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER SILVIO BERLUSCONI SAYING: "Therefore I believe it is my duty to express to you all in the name of the whole Italian people as I am chairing the Italian government our feeling of sorrow and regret and suffering for the great suffering the Libyan people were subjected to." GADDAFI AND OTHER APPLAUDING GADDAFI CELEBRATING / SITTING DOWN AUDIENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LIBYAN LEADER MUAMMAR GADDAFI SAYING: "Upon signing this treaty we build new era that fold the page of the hatred past and opens the door of future of friendship and cooperation and partnership which will constitute a strategic bridge of the most important sea which is the Mediterranean sea. Abridge through which goods, services, tourists, students, oil pipe lines, gas and water in the future crosse." GADDAFI AND BERLUSCONI SHAKING HANDS GADDAFI AND BERLUSCONI AMONGST MEDIA
  • Embargoed: 15th September 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVADGJ0NLB46BIAK6ZWHN115JYOE
  • Story Text: SCRIPT: Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi signed an accord on Saturday under which Italy will pay billions of dollars in investments and compensation for its colonial rule of the North African country.
    Gaddafi said it would open the door to future cooperation at the signing ceremony which took place at the palace that was once the headquarters of the Rome government's senior official during the 1911-1943 colonial rule Italy has had difficult relations with Gaddafi since he took power in 1969 but has backed Tripoli's recent drive to mend fences with the West. The "friendship pact" removes a major hurdle to an improvement in ties.
    Libya says Italian troops killed thousands of Libyans and drove thousands more from their villages and cities during the colonial era.
    Gaddafi gave no details of the amount of money involved in the deal but Berlusconi said on arrival that $200 million per year will be invested by Italy in Libya over 25 years.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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